Sundowns Ladies eyeing third continental title

11/08/2024 06:35 AM

The fourth edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League gets underway this weekend, with no less than five teams making their debut this season.

Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies will kick off their title defence in Morocco against FC Masar at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium on Sunday.

The Brazilians won their third crown when they beat SC Casablanca 3-0 in the 2023 final to go through the tournament with a perfect record of five wins from five.

Debutants FC Masar booked their ticket to Morocco after finishing runners-up in the UNAF qualifiers, losing 1-0 to AS FAR in their final match.

AS FAR must cope with the expectation of being hosts as they kick off their title challenge against Aigles de la Medina at the Ben M’Hamed El Abdi Stadium on Saturday.

The Moroccan giants won the 2022 edition with a 4-0 demolition of Sundowns and they’ll be one of the main contenders to dethrone the defending champions.

Aigles de la Medina are also making their bow at the tournament, having qualified as winners of WAFU Zone A to become the first Senegalese club to play on the continent.

TP Mazembe mark their return to the African stage when they face UWC Ladies at the Ben M’Hamed El Abdi Stadium on Saturday.

The Ravens, who missed out in 2023, went through the UNIFFAC qualifiers with an unbeaten record, scoring a remarkable 12 goals and conceding just one.

uDubs are another new face on the scene after they edged Gaborone United 9-8 on penalties in the COSAFA final to become the first university team to qualify for the tournament.

Meanwhile, CBE and Edo Queens will step into the unknown when they lock horns at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium on Sunday.

CBE finally reached the CAF Women’s Champions League at the third attempt after defeating Kenya Police Bullets 1-0 in the CECAFA final, having lost at the same stage in 2022 and 2023.

Edo Queens were dominant in WAFU Zone B with a perfect record of five wins from five, scoring a phenomenal 14 goals and shipping just one.

CAF Women’s Champions League matchday 1 fixtures:

Saturday, November 9

16h00: TP Mazembe v UWC Ladies

19h00: AS FAR v Aigles de la Medina

Sunday, November 10

16h00: Mamelodi Sundowns v FC Masar

19h00: CBE v Edo Queens